Question
I have a male friend who was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy two years ago. Now, his wife is pregnant for two months, and he is worried that IgA nephropathy might be inherited by their child. Will IgA nephropathy be inherited? Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello, IgA nephropathy is primarily caused by immune system issues rather than genetic factors. Therefore, IgA nephropathy usually does not inherit to the next generation. However, even though this is the case, if there is a family history of kidney disease, the children may be more susceptible to developing kidney problems, but this does not mean that IgA nephropathy will be inherited. For families with a member who has IgA nephropathy, it is recommended to regularly undergo kidney function tests and maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet to reduce the risk of kidney disease progression.